Statement
by
Ambassador Ivan Šimonovic
Permanent Representative of the Republic of Croatia
in the Security Council :
Open Debate - No Exit without Strategy
New York, November 15, 2000
It is my pleasure to thank the Kingdom of the Netherlands for organizing this open debate on the UN missions so-called exit strategy. We cannot agree more with the statement that the term ´exit strategy´ is unclear and may be misleading. We thereby wish to commend you for your initiative to explore the uncharted territory that lies between the formal end of a UN mission and the fulfillment of the mission´s objectives.
Mr. President,
We appreciate the approach the Dutch delegation has taken in preparing and distributing in advance a reference paper "No Exit Without Strategy" for today´s debate. Its conceptual part and its three case studies contain probing questions, as well as a compilation of lessons learned regarding the creation, modification, and especially, termination of operational mandates. So far, a number of these lessons have not been necessarily recommended for implementation, let alone implemented.
In this regard, we too consider today´s exercise as an important contribution to a missing link in the Brahimi report on the reform of UN peace operations, that cannot be supplanted by the Report´s call for a "clear, credible and achievable mandates" (A/2000/809, Annex III, paragraph 4). In our view, as drawn from our experience with having hosted five peace operations in our country, we are convinced that the Security Council´s mandates must also favor and help usher the end objectives of achieving self-sustainable peace. This goal, of course, requires a well-thought out strategy and unwavering commitment by all the parties involved.
In this regard Mr. President, Croatia takes pride, together with the UN, for having persevered in carrying out a comprehensive strategy for a successful termination of UNTAES, the United Nations Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium. To remind, at the time when the UNTAES was launched, the mandated area of its operation in Croatia was still under occupation.
From the outset, the Council set a clear, credible and realistic mandate, based on and corresponding to the 1995 agreement of the parties involved. Thus, in its resolution 1079 (1996) of 15 November 1996 the SC confirmed a two-year deadline of 15 January 1998 for the termination of the mission. In this case, the finality of the mandate provided both focus and discipline to anticipate and then carry out a number of mandated tasks, most notably the disarmament program. This initiative was launched not only early in the operation, but also, was completed swiftly and in parallel with the innovative manner of the weapons buy-back scheme. Of equal importance were the other two elements of the three-prong UNTAES success strategy: a follow-on security assistance and political missions that ensued upon the termination of the UN operation, and national strategy and policy measures regarding rehabilitation and reintegration of the former combatants. The follow-on mission of 180 civilian police monitors, for a single period of nine months, was authorized by the SC resolution 1145 (1997) of 19 December 1997, upon Croatia´s own request. Another element, both welcomed and encouraged by the Security Council, and later monitored by a regional security organization was a development and implementation of the Republic of Croatia´s national strategy of peaceful reintegration of the Region.
From today´s perspective, one can claim that UNTAES had all the right prerequisites in place, most importantly the cooperation of the host country. Therefore, the argument goes UNTAES was both unique and not particularly challenging operation. We respectfully disagree. We feel that the UN should be given credit for its part of the job well done. We are also convinced that credit is due to the Security Council. The proper initial formulation of the UN mandate, and its subsequent modifications to fit the evolving realities on the ground, were a part of a well-defined strategy to usher the final objectives -- peaceful reintegration of and sustainable peace in Eastern Slavonia. Because the Security Council has neither lost sight of nor appeared hesitant regarding this objective, it was able to act in an anticipatory and flexible fashion to the evolving process of implementation of the desired objectives. In such a manner, the Security Council did not waver from its course, did not send confusing signals or block the process of normalization in its tracks, but was able to recognize the encouraging steps on the ground and thus strengthen the process to run its course toward successful completion.
Mr. President,
Croatia is currently hosting UNMOP, the last remaining UN operation on its soil. Since 1992, the Prevlaka area has been under the UN monitoring mandate. The attempts by the parties, even at the local level, between the Croatian and Montenegrin authorities, to resolve the security issue of Prevlaka have over the years been frustrated by the unrelenting refusal of the former Miloševic regime to let go of its expansionist policies. As we have witnessed it elsewhere, such policies had failed disastrously, but were finally defeated only a precious few months ago. Nevertheless, Croatia has never given up the goal of reestablishing normalcy and bringing prosperity to the entire area under the UN monitoring mandate. Together with our Montenegrin neighbors, we have jointly committed ourselves to a peaceful resolution of the security issue of Prevlaka at the highest level. Moreover, we have drawn concrete and actionable plans to attract investors to this pristine part of the Croatian and Montenegrin coastal area to build complementary tourist resorts from both sides of the international border. We have also agreed to jointly fund the construction of the customs and other border-crossing facilities at Prevlaka. A part of this project should be carried out under the auspices of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe. We have faith that the new democratic authorities in Belgrade will continue with their constructive approach towards their neighbors, including in this matter, as well.
Mr. President,
We are grateful to the Secretary-General for having recognized, despite the crudeness of the UNMOP mandate, other acts of normalization on the ground. We feel that the time is ripe for the Security Council to advance a comprehensive ´exit strategy´ for this UN operation. It is time for the Security Council to assist the process of normalization further, by recognizing the repeatedly certified fact that the security situation on Prevlaka has been stable for years now, and by imposing a clear deadline for the termination of the mission. Such a decision will be based on an enabling strategy to reinforce sustainable peace and thus focus energies on returning prosperity to once thriving tourist industry of the Dubrovnik area and the Bay of Kotor.
I thank you again, Mr. President, for bringing a much needed spotlight on the often missing link between the end of the mission and the mission´s objectives.
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